bayedsolid Chapter 517 Taking advantage of the situation
Chapter 517 Taking advantage of the situation
Hua Yan sat in Men Buhui's office and devised a plan with him to turn the tables on him.
Men Buhui instructed his subordinates to convene a meeting. The meeting concluded that, given the recent defeats, a period of rest and reorganization was necessary, and there were no immediate plans for further attacks. However, preventative measures should be taken to avoid a sudden enemy offensive.
Before the meeting, Men Buhui arranged for someone to conduct another security check of the conference room, and attendees were also searched. Finding nothing, the meeting proceeded as planned.
The four people conducting the search followed their previous division of labor, each searching their assigned area.
Zhang Yang felt relieved after finding the listening device under the thermos. Zhou Hua glanced at him casually but remained silent.
Not long after the meeting ended, Xue Biao arrived at Men Buhui's office, where Hua Yan and Men Buhui were waiting for him.
Xue Biao had thoroughly investigated Men Buhui's office and found no eavesdropping devices.
"Commander Men, that person has already delivered the message."
Xue Biao had been monitoring someone—the person who delivered messages, whom Hua Yan had learned from Ruan Wenjun.
"Has Zhang Yang contacted him?"
"Zhang Yang went to see him after the meeting and told him that this was the last time, because the order of their search was disrupted last time, and he almost got exposed."
The person suggested he install it every time he conducted a search, but Zhang Yang disagreed, saying it was too risky.
Based on Zhang Yang's words, it seems he was unaware that the person was passing messages to the enemy.
"What did Zhang Yang say?"
Men Buhui never expected that Zhang Yang was unaware of this.
Zhang Yang said: "Although you were suspended from your post due to the failure of the battle, you want to make a comeback by understanding the contents of the meeting, but this is against discipline. I helped you because you once saved my life, but I cannot do what I know is wrong time and time again."
"Oh! I didn't know that happened."
Men Buhui smiled enigmatically.
"Commander Men, when Zhang Yang was talking to that person, Zhou Hua seemed to be secretly following him as well."
Xue Biao reported Zhou Hua's whereabouts.
"Xue Biao, your job now is to monitor Zhou Hua and see what he plans to do next."
Men Buhui couldn't understand Zhou Hua's behavior, so he could only monitor him.
"Yes! Chief."
Upon receiving the order, Xue Biao immediately went to carry it out.
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"Zhang Yang, I thought you had overlooked the bugging device, so you didn't mention it. Today I specifically saw you checking the thermos base, and I realized you did it intentionally."
We didn't expose you then to see what you'd do next. Hmph! I never imagined you'd be working for this incompetent fool. Is he trying to sabotage our operation?
“Zhou Hua, you’ve misunderstood. Zhang Xun isn’t what you think. He did this because he wanted to redeem himself after the battle failed.”
Zhang Yang was not as panicked as he had imagined, because he knew that even if the contents of the meeting were leaked, it would not affect the battle plan, much less have any adverse impact on the front lines.
"Really? Haven't you ever wondered why we've been losing our battles against Country Y lately?"
Zhou Hua is not as optimistic as Zhang Yang, nor is he so easily fooled.
“Zhang Xun, like me, is wholeheartedly devoted to serving the country. Because of the failure of the battle he led, he was suspended from his post. He has been looking for an opportunity to make amends, which is why he installed a listening device in the conference room. He wanted to understand the battle plan, contribute his efforts, redeem himself, and have a chance to participate in the battle again.”
"Is that so! But we haven't won a single battle since he suffered that defeat. How has he managed to put in the effort? Has he just been thinking about it without taking any real action?"
"Zhang Xun said he has been keeping an eye on the battlefield situation, and he might be able to help next time."
"Heh! So, he's not good at practical application, but he can rely on theoretical knowledge?"
Although Zhou Hua didn't know what Zhang Xun was trying to do, he didn't believe for a second that Zhang Xun could change the course of the battle.
"He can come up with effective methods just by listening to the battle plan. Does he intend to go to the front lines alone and change the course of the war single-handedly?"
Zhou Hua's question left Zhang Yang speechless.
Yes! Coordinated operations are needed on the battlefield. How can Zhang Xun play any role by himself? Zhang Yang suddenly felt that he had been a bit foolish and had trusted Zhang Xun too much.
Seeing the slight change in Zhang Yang's expression, Zhou Hua knew he had hit the nail on the head.
"Zhang Yang, don't let yourself be deceived and end up becoming an accomplice to evil."
Although Zhou Hua was unsure of Zhang Xun's motives, he didn't quite trust him because his behavior was too unusual.
"Zhou Hua, Zhang Xun... he wouldn't lie to me, would he?"
Zhang Yang's previous assertions have now turned into a rhetorical question.
"Then you have to look at what he did. If he did something harmful to the country and the people, you are to blame. If you can stop him, you may have a chance to redeem yourself."
Zhou Hua is an upright and kind person. He didn't expose Zhang Yang immediately because he didn't want Zhang Yang to ruin his future due to negligence. He followed and observed Zhang Yang because he didn't want his momentary soft-heartedness to cause serious consequences.
“I just told him that this is the last time I'll help him, and this won't happen again.”
Zhang Yang regretted his actions, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse his savior's request.
"To make up for your mistake, we must now pay close attention to all his actions. You don't want to become a sinner against the country and the people, do you?"
It's best if he didn't betray the country; if he did, regardless of your previous relationship, he's now your enemy.
Zhou Hua was a man of strong likes and dislikes. Even if Zhang Xun had not harmed national interests, he would not tolerate such behavior and would definitely report it to his superiors.
"Okay! Hua Zi, I'll go keep an eye on him right away."
“I’ll go with you too, so I can help if anything unexpected happens.”
Zhou Hua was worried that Zhang Yang would soften his heart after discovering the problem, which would be terrible. He had heard that Zhang Xun was Zhang Yang's savior, and he might not be able to bring himself to be ruthless.
"Thank you, Hua Zi, for not exposing me immediately."
"After this is over, I will report the whole situation to my superiors, including my own failure to report what I knew."
Zhou Hua announced his decision.
"Hua Zi, it's all my fault that you've been dragged into this."
Zhang Yang is soft-hearted; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to be manipulated by Zhang Xun.
Zhou Hua patted Zhang Yang on the shoulder and said softly:
"Hopefully things haven't gotten out of control."
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"Deputy Commander Ruan, I have just received the latest news that China will temporarily suspend its offensive and will take a break."
Zhang Xun hid in a deserted grove of trees, holding a phone.
"Okay! I understand. Continue to monitor their meeting and report back immediately if there's any news."
Nguyen Van Tuan spoke in a very serious tone, his attitude like that of a superior addressing a subordinate.
"Yes, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Ruan. When can I receive the US dollars you promised me?"
Zhang Xun has not forgotten what he did for a living.
"Didn't we already give you $100,000? We'll give you the remaining $200,000 after we drive the Chinese army away."
Ruan Wenjun was getting impatient. Although he had received the battle information from Zhang Xun, as a soldier, he looked down on Zhang Xun to the core.
“Deputy Commander Ruan, didn’t we agree before that as long as China temporarily ceases hostilities, you would give me another $100,000? And after the war ends, you will give me the final $100,000.”
Zhang Xun is now extremely eager to get that $100,000 because Zhang Yang said this is the last time he'll help him, and he can't guarantee he can convince Zhang Yang to help him again. Only Zhang Xun himself knows the true nature of this so-called life-saving favor, and besides, Zhang Yang is also taking a huge risk.
Ruan Wenjun is still able to answer Zhang Xun's calls because he still has some use; he heard the information Ruan wanted to know, but for now, he's useless. A large-scale battle will begin in two days, and Ruan's side has a 70% chance of winning. At that point, Ruan will be pointless.
"Zhang Xun, you definitely won't be shortchanged on the money. Since you're in such a hurry, I'll have someone deliver it to you in three days. You can pick it up at the usual place then."
Ruan Wenjun thought he should appease Zhang Xun first, and the situation would become clear in two days. If they won, they would save money. If they lost, Zhang Xun would still be useful, and they couldn't afford to offend him.
"Okay! Thank you, Deputy Commander Ruan."
After receiving Nguyen Van Tuan's words, Zhang Xun began planning his escape. The forest was dense; he would first find a place to hide, then smuggle himself into a neighboring country, and finally flee far away, where no one could find him.